"I have StarLaughter under guard at the head of this column," Axis had said with no preamble as he slid down from Sal's back. "She says she has come here to meet you. She says that you are her husband. She says that she has loved you for all eternity, and she says that your happy marriage is about to recommence."

WolfStar still could not quite comprehend it. Stars, but the woman must be so far out of her mind that it was likely waiting for her on some distant iceberg in the Iskruel Ocean!

"What are you going to do about it?" he said.

"What am I going to do about it?" Axis turned his face away for a moment, a muscle working in his cheek. He looked back at WolfStar. "The question, renegade, is what you are going to do about it."

"I don't have to —"

"Yes, you do! Wolf Star, this is your problem, and you are damn well going to fix it! I do not like the idea of StarLaughter running about in this convoy, but even less do I like the idea of what she might do if I kick her sorry person back into the snow and ice. She is happily preening herself at my campfire, telling the poor sods of Lake Guardsmen who stand watch over her about the night of passionate love that awaits you and she, while meantime you are huddling up to my daughter and trying to pretend that StarLaughter is not your problem.

"WolfStar, she is more than your problem, she is your responsibility! She became your responsibility and your problem the instant you threw her through the Star Gate! Now, you are going to accompany me back to the head of the convoy and you are going to sort out this mess once and for all. I do not want StarLaughter a threat to this column. Stars know what she could do, or call down upon us, if she feels she's been slighted."

WolfStar sneered as Axis paused to take a furious breath. "No doubt you couldn't be more pleased by this development, Axis. No doubt you think that you can send me off with StarLaughter and rescue your daughter from the depths to which I have dragged her. Well, I won't do a thing to —"

Axis reached out and seized WolfStar's hair with one hand, his chin with his other.

"You will come with me now," he said between clenched teeth, "or I will personally deliver your sword-stuck corpse to your wife ... with my condolences, of course. Now, you will come with me\"

WolfStar snarled, an automatic response, but he offered no resistance as Axis hauled him forward.

Damn Axis to everlasting agony in the pits of the AfterLife! When he, WolfStar, wrestedpower and control from DragonStar no-one would be able to treat him so contemptuously!

As Axis remounted Sal, and gave WolfStar a none-too-gentle kick in the small of WolfStar's back with his booted foot, Zenith emerged from the shadows, her face expressionless.

Further back in the gloom, so furtive and silent that Zenith did not know she was being watched, stood StarDrifter, his face an equal mixture of hope and despair.

StarLaughter laughed, fluttering her hands about her, admiring the way the firelight caught at the sparkle of rings and nail polish. She tossed her head, knowing the five Icarii men who stood around her were finding it hard to control their lust.

StarLaughter knew WolfStar would not be able to keep his hands off her once he saw her again.

It was predestined, for their love was meant to be eternal.

There was a movement in the night, and the Guardsmen stepped back, not even bothering to hide their relief.

Axis stepped into the firelight. "I have brought you your husband, StarLaughter," he said, "although whether or not you find him what you —"

"WolfStar?" StarLaughter scrambled to her feet, almost tripping over a length of tattered scarf that hung from her waist. "WolfStar? Is that you?"

"Yes, you over-painted harlot," WolfStar said, and stepped into view. "What in every god's name have you done to yourself?"

StarLaughter preened, turning her body this way and that so her husband could admire it. "I have made myself beautiful ... for you," she simpered.

WolfStar laughed derisively. "Then what a shame you have failed so badly."

So lost was StarLaughter in her madness, and her mad world, that none of WolfStar's derision registered. He was here, and he was hers, and nothing would ever come between them.

She threw herself full length against WolfStar's body, rubbing herself wantonly against him, running her hands over curves and into crannies that few women ever dared caress in public.

"My love!" she whispered, and kissed him.

WolfStar wrenched his head back, and seized StarLaughter by the shoulders.

"I find you repulsive!" he hissed. "Disgusting! Nauseous! Can you understand that, you raving witch?"

"Enough play," she murmured, attempting to snuggle up to him again. "You always had such a way with words!"

"WolfStar ..." Axis said, wanting WolfStar to end this repellent scene.

"Listen to me!" WolfStar snarled. "I never loved you, not once! Can you understand that? Do you actually hear my words?"

Something flickered in StarLaughter's face, and her hands stilled.

"I married you for the power you'd bequeath our son," Wolf Star continued, his voice deliberately hard and scornful, "and for the added legitimacy you'd give my seizure of the throne of Talon.

I found your personality grating, your body only bearable at best. I kept lovers to keep me amused and warm, for you never did! I have never, do not, and will not ever love you, for you are the most repellent woman in creation!"

StarLaughter's face had now blanched, and she stared in confusion into WolfStar's eyes.

He continued, brutally cruel. "I repudiate you, before all these witnesses. I cast you aside. I deny our marriage. You are filth, StarLaughter. Filth!"

"WolfStar!" Axis' voice cracked across the campfire. "That's enough!"

"I don't believe you," StarLaughter whispered. "I can't!"

"Would you believe it," another voice said, "if someone told you that WolfStar has taken another to his heart and to his bed, and would wife her, if only he could permanently dispose of you?"

WolfStar cursed foully. StarDrifter! What had the stupid birdman done!

StarDrifter had now stepped into the circle of light. "He has taken a woman," he said, "that does not belong to him, and who does not love him."

"That's a lie!" WolfStar shouted. "She loves me, and I her!"

Humiliated, scorned, betrayed, StarLaughter jerked out of WolfStar's grasp.

"Who?" she whispered, then turned her head to StarDrifter and spoke louder, more strongly. "Who is this whore-bitch that thinks to depose me?"

It was only then that StarDrifter realised what a terrible mistake he had made.

Chapter 53

Sigholt

They continued south, Axis and his war band ranging ahead during the day, Urbeth leading the column of trees and people and animals behind him.

StarLaughter had proved a problem.

Since StarDrifter — curse his tongue! — had blurted out the fact of Zenith's existence, StarLaughter had not said a word.